Field tiller



Feb. 4, 1936. 0, JOHNSON 2,029,872

FIELD TILLER Filed Dec. 11, 1934' f ZWZ J iii /f,/ 1; /a 1 14 WITNESSES I INVENTOR 3 050042" B. fa 71775077,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 193% pairs stares FIELD MULLER.

I @scar Benjamin Johnson, Ensign, Kane. Application December llll, 1934, Serial No. 757,046

2 Elaims.

This invention relates to harrow tillers of the rotary type used in gangs.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a novel type of field tiller which may be used in any type of harrow, either plain, tandem, or one way, which makes pits or holes in the ground at regular intervals, regardless of the direction traveled, to the end that erosion by Wind or water is prevented; that in case of a heavy rainfall the pits hold the water where it falls until the ground has time to absorb it; that in case of a dry wind it provides a place for the loose soil to lodge, thereby preventing soil blowing; and that the cutting edges of the tilling elements will penetrate below the usual depth of cultivation and bring up hard, cloddy soil on top, thereby improving the texture of the soil.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. l is a front view of a gang of tiller elements constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a section of one of the tiller elements, the'secticn being taken through the minor axis thereof as indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a one-way gang of tiller elements.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and especially Figs. 2 and 3, it will be apparent that each tiller element of the present invention consists of an approximate semi-circular dished metal body l having a square shaft hole Ill therein to provide an axis of rotation for the body to. The body H] has two'peripheral cutting edges l2 and I3 respectively, which meet in points 14. The cutting edge I2 is curved concentric to the axis of rotation of the body It, and the cutting edge i3 is curved eccentric to said axis. The points M are disposed at opposite ends of the minor axis of the body Hl, such minor axis being indicated by the line 3-3.

In accordance with the invention a suitable number of tiller elements having the mentioned features is arranged on a shaft [5 supported for rotation by bearings it depending from a frame ll constituting a gang which may be used either plain or tandem. The tilling elements are maintained in spaced relation on the shaft is by tubular spacers l8 arranged on the shaft 55 between 5 the tilling elements. It will be apparent that the tilling elements are arranged eccentrically on the shaft l5, and in accordance with the invention the eccentricity of alternate elements is reversed as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.- In other words, 10

the concentric cutting edges l2 are disposed in opposite directions alternately. One-half of the tilling element will be tilling while the other half is inactive. Each half of the elements as mounted on the shaft l5 will start tilling almost imme- 5 diately after the other half has stopped tilling, in each revolution of the shaft I5. With this arrangement the tilling elements make pits or holes in the ground at regular intervals in order to attain the advantages hereinbefore set forth. The

tilling of the ground is accomplished regardless of the direction traveled in relation to a hill, thereby making it unnecessary to terrace the land.

As shown in Fig. 4, when itis desired to use the tilling elements in a gang one way, a land side disk i9 is employed which has a somewhat smaller radius than the element H) to produce a continuous furrow for the furrow wheels of a barrow to run in. It is to be understood that the effect of the pits or holes left by the tilling elements may be intensified by the use of larger elements or by increasing the spacing thereof. Any suitable size of tilling elements and spacing thereof may be. resorted to.

I claim:

1. A tilling implement comprising a shaft providing an axis of rotation, tilling elements mounted on the shaft for rotation, each of said elements 40 being approximately one-half of a disk. said elements being arranged axially in spaced relation to each other, and said elements being oppositely disposed about said axis, alternately.

2. A rotatable tilling element consisting of an approximate semi-circular dished body whose peripheral edges meet in two points, and one of said edges being concentric to the axis of rotation of the element.

OSCAR BENJAMIN Johnson. 5o 

